That's what la maestra says to us at Griffin's first parent-teacher conference last week.
Ed and I glance at each other, surprised, a little guilty.
She goes on to explain that she and her aide have both noticed that Griffin is picking up a lot of vocabulary that they aren't explicitly teaching in their Spanish immersion classroom--song lyrics, words on posters, things the adults say in passing. She also professes amazement that Griffin doesn't seem to be experiencing the "silent period" in language acquisition, where learners listen and absorb before they start producing the language spontaneously. (Think, for example, of how much babies and toddlers have to hear before they can speak.)
This, of course, is a huge surprise to us, because Griffin usually answers questions about what he did at school that day with "je ne sais pas"(I don't know) and "je ne m'en souviens pas"(I don't remember). (Isn't that supposed to be more of an older kid's attitude? Oh well, he's a precocious little boy.) What new words did you learn today? None. Which kids did you play with on the playground? I don't know their names. What did you have for snack? Yogurt--no, graham crackers--no, I don't remember. Can you sing us a song from school today? What song? Any song! Any song? Yes! No.
Anyway, we are beyond thrilled to hear his teacher tell us that Griffin is a language whiz, but we do have to confess that no, actually, we haven't done anything at home to enrich his Spanish--Ed doesn't speak it and I refuse to give up any of our precious French time!
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| Griffin doesn't tell us much about his arts and crafts projects, either--in any language! |
¡Qué misterio! You're so lucky to be able to study this program, I wish I could have the same in English! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I know...if only I had had an opportunity like this when I was young! (We had to wait till 9th grade to study another language in school.)
DeleteThat's what I like about bilingual children! They really have an advantage when learning a new language compared to other kids. Does Griffin try to speak Spanish or English to you after school?
ReplyDeleteWe have not heard Griffin make any complete sentences in Spanish yet, though his teacher says he does so in school. At home, he'll announce words or phrases in Spanish, or count, or tell us something's color. His language preference is clearly for English, but he'll happily speak French with me. Usually he uses a mix of both, unless we've spent the day without other English speakers around, or if we've been reading a lot together.
DeleteAnd do you normally ask him to speak with you in French? Do you insist when he doesn't?
DeleteOooh, good questions. I actually have not insisted that Griffin reply to me in French, unless we're at French playgroup or storytime or discussing a book that we're reading together. Just having him respond appropriately in English, thus proving that he had understand my comments and questions in French, made me very happy.
DeleteHowever, this means that if at some point I want to get more strict about it, it will be hard to change our pattern. He would probably be extremely resistant if I started requiring him to speak French to me (he can be a very stubborn, contrary little boy!), which would badly affect our dynamic.
How does it work in your family?
In my family the situation is a bit different. Russia is not my home country and it means I have to speak a foreign language most of the time. (Well, of course Russian has become my second language). So I had it very clear from the beginning - I wanted to speak Spanish with my kids. (I'm Cuban). So yes, I've insisted that Isabel speaks with me in Spanish.
DeleteIn general she speaks Spanish when she addresses me. Although there are situations (like after school, where she studies in Russian) when I have to be inventive to make her switch to Spanish.
Regarding Griffin, you could slowly try to extend the range of situations when he knows he is supposed to reply in French. I'm afraid that becoming strict all of the sudden wouldn't help much. ... You are a very experienced teacher. I'm sure you will manage it!
Good luck!
Joselyn
It is great to see such fast progress. Griffin might also enjoy reading in Spanish in the near future, as it is easier then French. It will motivate him even more!
ReplyDeleteFranck
Yes, we will have to look for more trilingual books and start borrowing Spanish translations of some of his favorites from the library!
DeleteHe can already read quite a bit (for a four-year-old) in English, and can figure out easy words in French and Spanish!
I totally see us on this post!! But speaking with a 2,5 years old in our case. Our questions are exactly the same, in that order, even the part of the songs! He never talks about what he does in the school (kindergarten) when you ask him directly. It´s like he feels he´s being interrogated and turns a deaf ear on you or changes the subject!!! Then afterwards when he is playing alone while I make dinner I hear him singing new songs. Or when we are putting him to bed and we are talking about other stuff he comes up with “E (classmate) speaks English with her Mami and her Papi at home, just like you, Papi”. My eyes open wide in awe. Or “Papi, I´m in the yellow team with G but S is in the blue team” (they put them in groups by color in class). Ok sweetie… And he keeps dropping these little pearls here and there but never when you ask him directly, and it occurs always after playing together for a while.
ReplyDeleteYes! That's exactly how it works! We should get our little boys together some day--I bet they would have a lot to say to each other. :)
ReplyDelete